Author: Adrian Fletcher
There is a bit of a stigma attached to adopting your new pet from
the dog shelter. There is the perception that the dog is bad, that
this is dog prison and it must have been bad to be there. This is not
really the case.
The reality is that only a small minority of the dogs that end up at a
shelter will have serious behavioral problems. And the harsh reality is
that you will probably never see these animals anyway as the staff
decide that they can't be re-homed.
Maybe the owner is moving interstate or overseas and can't take their
pet. Maybe they got the animal for the wrong reasons. Many people buy
dogs on impulse and once the initial excitement and charm has worn off
they are not up to the responsibility of providing a home for the
animal. Sad as it is, this if often a common reason for dogs going to a
shelter. So with this myth dispelled this article will discuss some of
the advantages of adopting a dog from a shelter as opposed to other
ways to get a pet.
In many cases, a dog in the dog shelter will already be trained to some
extent. This could apply to toilet training and even general obedience
training. This can make your life a lot easier than a new puppy that
requires this training from scratch. It's doesn't mean that a shelter
dog is an easy option, you still have to give it plenty of attention
and welcome it into the family home but this is a more enjoyable part
of the relationship you will have with your pet. If you are lucky your
new pet may have a good degree of obedience training so it will fit
into the wider community as well as your family.
As the dog is likely to be an adult, you will be able to judge it's
temperament. It always makes sense for the whole family to meet
potential pets at the shelter so that you can see how the dog interacts
with your family. As the dog is fully grown it's temperament is
unlikely to change so you will get a good idea of whether the dog will
fit into your family.
The people that work at the shelter generally have a good idea of the
temperament of the dog because they spend time with it and see it
socialize with other dogs. Ask these people what they think of the dog
and what you want from a dog. They can probably make some good
suggestions about whether the dog will be suitable.
Although a shelter dog may not have the instant appeal of a cute puppy,
it can make up for this because you know what you are getting. It can
be an instant family member and be loved and cherished.
About the Author:
Tags:
|
Print this page
